State of Alaska Archives: on Energy & Oil

Few can claim Treadwell's experience and understanding of the Arctic, where he has represented Alaska on U.S. Delegations in three circumpolar government groups, and been a director of the Institute of the North.

Treadwell called ocean acidification
one of the "most pressing effects" of climate change, and "one of the toughest things to adapt to." The solutions, he believes, lie in better technology. "I have always supported trying to make our energy cleaner," he said, pointing to potential in
CO2 sequestration technology and use of hydrogen vehicles. "I believe we can and must be a proving ground for some of these new technologies."

Treadwell added, "but you are not going to find me,
as a responsible official from a state known for three things: cold, dark, distance--and where people are already paying too much for energy, trying to raise their energy prices."

Mark Begich:
Drill in the Arctic Ocean; drill in National Forests

Drill, baby, drill. Sen. Mark Begich will go on the radio Thursday with a new ad touting his work to expand drilling and mining in the Arctic:

"Even though Washington keeps trying to stop Alaska from developing our natural resources, I'm pushing for
more oil drilling and mining because it means thousands of new jobs that you can raise a family on," he says in the 60-second spot, "and because it's our land, and we know best how to use it."

Begich began running radio ads early.
Each ad presents him as an outsider fighting against the unpopular status quo in Washington. Previous topics include education reform and decrying the government shutdown.

Begich notes that he got the Forest Service to open up 11 new drill sites at
Greens Creek and to expand the mine to keep it open for an additional 30 years. "And next year, Shell Oil is coming back to the Arctic Ocean, bringing new and upgraded drill ships so we can finally start drilling after decades of waiting," said Begich.

Source: Politico.com AdWatch on 2014 Alaska Senate race
Jan 2, 2014

Mead Treadwell:
Increase resource development & reform energy taxes

As Lieutenant Governor, Mead Treadwell is focused on making Alaska's economy competitive through increased resource development, energy tax reform,
and ensuring that the federal government deals with Alaska's issues on Alaska's terms.

Sean Parnell:
Reform tax proposals to foster new oil production

As we debate tax reforms, we will judge any proposal based on four questions:

Are the changes fair to Alaskans?

Will they foster new oil production?

Will they simplify and restore balance to our fiscal system?

And, will the changes make us competitive not only for this year but for years ahead?

If you pass legislation that answers these four questions, you won't have to ask for my answer, because you will get my signature.

Source: 2013 State of the State address to 28th Alaska Legislature
Jan 16, 2013

Sean Parnell:
Build the Alaska gasline to extract natural gas

I ask you to join me [via the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act] in refilling Alaska's pipeline to prosperity. We will grow Alaska's economy by accessing our abundant natural gas. Our state has more than 200 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the ground.
This gas represents cheaper heating fuel for Alaska homes and Alaska businesses, and these reserves can energize and grow Alaska's economy. But before we can realize these benefits, a gasline must be built to bring these reserves to market.

Source: Alaska 2012 State of the State Address
Jan 18, 2012

Sean Parnell:
Reduce EPA red tape on Arctic Outer Continental Shelf

Federal agencies engage in subtle ways of stifling Alaska's economy. Take the EPA for example. Five years after completing its paperwork with the EPA, one company is still trying to get an air permit to explore the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf. Five ye
Why, then, are similar permits routinely granted in the Gulf of Mexico in a matter of months? The EPA has no answer. Red tape is a needless drag on our economy. It's inefficient, and it comes at great cost to
Alaska, where we are still working hard to build out our most basic road system. For most of the Lower 48, the relationship between the states and the federal government was established 100, even 200 years ago.
In Alaska, we are still defining that relationship, and "they're still not returning our calls." We demand to be treated as a state, not as a colony.

Source: 2011 Alaska State of the State Address
Jan 19, 2011

Joe Miller:
Nuclear energy shouldn't be precluded or overlooked

The candidates agreed on the need to provide for more reliable energy--just differing on how to get there. Murkowski and McAdams talked about a focus on boosting renewable energy to help build up local communities and create jobs.
Miller said options, including nuclear, shouldn't be precluded or overlooked.

Joe Miller:
Develop hydroelectric projects but without federal aid

On the issue of offshore drilling, McAdams said he unequivocally was in support of it. McAdams added that he had drafted a letter to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar asking him to lift the moratorium on offshore drilling.

Miller may have missed hi
opponent's response, rebutting by saying, "This whole anti-development perspective of the Democratic Party, we've got to stop it, because that's not the future of this state."

On regional hydroelectric projects, McAdams said that he would fight for
federal funding.

Miller agreed that energy projects needed to move forward, but that federal regulatory burdens would make projects less likely to happen. "Any time you say there isn't room for private enterprise, I think you're making a mistake," he
said. "Any time you're dependent on the feds, let me tell you, it's a dead end. We need to work forward to make sure these things can go forward, that we get the feds out of the way in a way that we put these projects to work."

Scott McAdams:
Unequivocally in support of offshore drilling

On the issue of offshore drilling, McAdams said he unequivocally was in support of it, and that it is in fact the most environmentally conscientious choice due to the high drilling operations standards in the US, as opposed to other places in the world
where the country turns to for oil.

McAdams added that as a candidate he had drafted a letter to Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar asking him to lift the moratorium on offshore drilling, noting that the jobs are vitally important to state residents.

When the topic turned to regional hydroelectric projects, McAdams said the most important
goal was to aid local communities in getting affordable energy, and that he would fight for federal funding.

Miller agreed that energy projects needed to move forward, but that federal regulatory burdens would make projects less likely to happen.

Sean Parnell:
Strike balance between ocean protection and oil production

The federal government hyperextends its reach by proposing to zone the oceans. They call it "marine spatial planning." But the wild and shifting seas were never meant to be defined by little square boxes of regulated activity.

National oceans policy
should be rational, should recognize the important role of coastal states, and should strike a balance between our ocean protection and commercial activities, like our fisheries and oil and gas production.

For three decades, oil has substantially funded our state treasury, and provided jobs and income to thousands of Alaskans. And then there is the future of further oil and gas discoveries in Alaska's Outer Continental Shelf, and maybe even one day--ANWR.
Alaskans need the estimated 35 thousand jobs and $72 billion dollars in payroll that responsible OCS development would create. I have made exploring and developing the OCS our priority.

Source: Alaska 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 20, 2010

Sarah Palin:
Sues federal EPA for misusing Endangered Species Act

As the largest and only Arctic state, we're studying climate-change through our DEC-led subcabinet. And we're suing the federal government for misusing the Endangered Species Act. There is an attempt there to use the
ESA to impose environmental policies that should be debated and approved legislatively, not by court order or bureaucratic decree. Alaskans have shown through our protective laws that we're willing and able to protect our magnificent wildlife,
while developing our God-given resources, by using conservation laws as they were intended. We'll challenge abuse of federal law when it's used just to lock up Alaska.

Vital projects now underway show how much science and technology have
improved in a generation, greatly reducing risk to the environment. Continued work in Cook Inlet and on the North Slope, new drilling at Nikaitchug, new exploration in NPRA--these projects and more will be carried out with the safest methods.

Source: Alaska 2009 State of the State Address
Jan 22, 2009

Sarah Palin:
Goal of 50% of Alaska electric power from renewable sources

Previously, we've relied on a diminishing gas supply from Cook Inlet, and expensive diesel, and a mix of government subsidies, and not enough conservation--but that is not sustainable. And it shouldn't take another spike in energy costs to stir us into
action. Alaska will help achieve energy independence and security for our country, and we can lead with a long-needed energy plan for America. But let us begin with energy security for ourselves.

This includes meeting my goal of generating
50% of our electric power with renewable sources. That's an unprecedented policy across the US but we're the state that can do it with our abundant renewables, and with Alaskan ingenuity.

In our energy plan, for the first time,
Alaskans will see cooperation among our utilities. We'll introduce legislation creating the joint utility corporation to finally accomplish this. We will have coordinated power generation that will finally make sense for consumers.

Begich said he sent letters to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, urging them to join in a bipartisan effort to tackle both short-term relief & long-term solutions in a national energy package to give help and hope to
America’s working families. Begich said the skyrocketing cost of home heating fuel prices “is crippling many communities & stretching pocketbooks,” and hospitals, schools and businesses are making tough budget decisions to cover record electricity bills.
In his letter, Begich asked Senate leaders to:

add an extra $2.5 billion in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program;

clamp down on oil market speculators and price gouging by producers and distributors;

release
70 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve;

Mark Begich:
Long term: develop ANWR; build renewable energy plants

Congress must put aside partisan politics and implement a national energy package, Begich said in a letter to Senate leaders. In his letter, Begich wrote that American families need immediate bipartisan action from Congress and the president to bring
short-term relief from high energy prices. As for long-term solutions, Begich urged Senate leaders to:

open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to responsible oil and gas development;

accelerate the sale of leases in the National Petroleum
Reserve-Alaska;

Sarah Palin:
Resource rebate: suspend AK 8-cent fuel tax for one year

I’m pleased to report to Alaskans that in early August, our Alaska Legislature agreed to approve a one-time resource rebate that returns part of our resource wealth to Alaskans --the owners in common of these resources. The rebate will be a direct
payment of $1,200 to each Alaskan eligible for the 2008 Permanent Fund Dividend. The resource rebate was part of a larger energy package that also includes a 50% increase in the maximum loan amount for bulk fuel bridge and bulk fuel revolving loan funds
to communities and cooperatives. Additionally, it suspends the state’s 8-cent motor fuel tax on gasoline, marine fuel and aviation fuel for one year and strengthens the Power Cost Equalization Program.

Our lawmakers also included an additional
$60 million for the Home Energy Rebate Program operated by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation and $50 million in grant funds to the Renewable Energy Fund, bringing the total available for renewable energy projects in FY 2009 to $100 million.

Source: Alaska Governor’s Office: August 2008 Newsletter
Aug 20, 2008

Sarah Palin:
Gasline Inducement Act: 1,715-mile natural gas pipeline

On Aug. 1, the legislature awarded TC Alaska the AGIA license to move forward and build Alaska’s natural gas pipeline. The Legislature also authorized my administration to award the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act license to TransCanada
Alaska to initiate development of a 1,715-mile natural gas pipeline from Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope to the Alberta Hub in Canada. Lawmakers also appropriated $35.5 million for gas pipeline expenditures.

Source: Alaska Governor’s Office: August 2008 Newsletter
Aug 20, 2008

Sarah Palin:
Commercialize Alaska’s North Slope natural gas

Governor Sarah Palin today signed Administrative Order 242, directing the state Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Revenue to work cooperatively with any organization or entity committed to commercializing Alaska’s North
Slope natural gas.

“This solidifies our commitment to facilitating an LNG project that is a product of market interest,” Governor Palin said. “By committing both project capital and natural gas resources to a pipeline that would transport
North Slope natural gas to tidewater, an LNG project can remain an integral element of the state’s effort to deliver Alaska’s gas to market.“

Specifically, the Administrative Order instructs the two departments to provide specific kinds of support to
those pursuing development of an economically and technically viable liquefied natural gas project. That support includes permitting coordination, fiscal and economic analysis, and facilitation of meetings with federal agencies.

In a speech given in Lansing, Michigan, Senator Obama called for the completion of the Alaska natural gas pipeline, stating, “Over the next five years, we should also lease more of the
National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska for oil and gas production. And we should also tap more of our substantial natural gas reserves and work with the Canadian government to finally build the Alaska natural gas pipeline, delivering clean natural gas
and creating good jobs in the process.“

Gov. Palin said, ”This is a tool that must be on the table to buy us time until our long-term energy plans can be put into place, and it is gratifying to see Senator Obama get on board.“

Gov. Palin today encouraged Exxon Mobil to pay the $507 million in punitive damages plus interest awarded by the US Supreme Court to 32,000 plaintiffs in the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill lawsuit. “These people have suffered long enough,”
Gov. Palin said. “While Exxon may have the ability to delay payments, I strongly encourage them to bring this sad chapter in our history to a long-overdue conclusion.
It is time to end the misery so everyone can move on.“

The Governor is hopeful plaintiffs will receive payments this fall. So far, though,
Exxon has not indicated whether it will cut checks to plaintiffs right away, or seek further reductions in the award as the case goes back to the lower courts.

Returning surplus funds through grants to electric utilities will result in a 60% reduction for all ratepayers. The benefit will flow to homeowners, renters, schools, governments and businesses.

In addition, there will be conservation incentives for
the utilities. For every 1% reduction in 2008 kilowatt hour sales from 2007 sales, the state will make a year-end contribution for capital energy projects to the utility.

The Energy Debit Card will go out to every qualifying [Alaska resident]. The
benefit will be $100 per month per recipient. The temporary Energy Debit Card can be used for purchases from Alaska energy vendors, such as heating oil distributors, natural gas utilities, electric utilities, gas stations & other retail fueling stations.

The value of this plan is approximately $1.2 billion. The grant to electric utilities is expected to be $475 million, while the Energy Debit Card totals are forecast to be $729 million. The Governor has proposed this energy relief plan for one year.

Sarah Palin:
Bush is right: drill ANWR & develop our own supplies

Gov. Sarah Palin released the following statement after Pres. Bush renewed his call to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration in the face of surging gasoline prices: “Pres. Bush is right. Across the nation, communities are feeling
the pinch of high energy costs. It is absurd that we are borrowing from one foreign country to buy oil from another. It is a threat to our national security and economic well-being. It is well past time for America to develop our own supplies.”

Sarah Palin:
Fully fund the Petroleum Systems Integrity Office

Governor Sarah Palin today strongly urged lawmakers to restore critical funding for the Petroleum Systems Integrity Office (PSIO), which exercises oversight of the maintenance of facilities, equipment and infrastructure for sustained production and
transportation of oil and natural gas resources in Alaska.

“I’m disappointed that House Finance subcommittee members removed $523,000 in funding for PSIO from my budget. Facing the prospect of the largest construction project in
North America, a natural gas pipeline, we must demonstrate to Alaskans and the nation that we provide sound oversight of the systems that are needed to develop our resources. I am hopeful the full Finance Committee will restore funding for critical
PSIO positions needed to accomplish this mission.“ The money would fund personnel for investigation of system integrity breaches and implementation of a statewide quality assurance program.

We need a comprehensive approach to long-term energy plans, not just fiscal “shots-in-the-arm.” I’m appointing an Energy Coordinator, to activate a statewide Energy Plan. We’ll use earnings from a $250 million “Renewable Energy Fund” for alternative
projects, like hydro, wind, geothermal, and biomass. These projects cannot even flirt with snake-oil science--they will be real, doable, and economic. Alaska’s plan can lead America toward energy security and a cleaner, safer world.

Source: 2008 State of the State Address to 25th Alaska Legislature
Jan 15, 2008

Sarah Palin:
Gas pipelines are approved if they meet Alaska’s needs

An example of our self-determination is our natural gas pipeline vehicle: AGIA. AGIA’s competitive process is built on Alaska’s “must-haves.” Finally we will have an “open access” gasline so new explorers can produce new reserves, providing in-state use
of our gas and careers for Alaskans. Without AGIA’s requirements, we’d be leveraged by a small group of companies. We can’t surrender revenue, judicial process and our sovereignty. A respected pipeline construction company,
TransCanada, submitted a proposal that meets all of Alaska’s requirements. AGIA cleared the path for our gas to feed hungry local markets and to help secure the country with a safe, stable, and domestic supply of clean energy.
An AGIA license gets the ball rolling on our terms--and opens the door to innovative and strategic partnerships. We are reasonable and open to those partnerships that, at the end of the day, will get that long-awaited gas line built.

Source: 2008 State of the State Address to 25th Alaska Legislature
Jan 15, 2008

Sarah Palin:
Submitted legislation to build natural AGIA gas pipeline

Governor Palin submitted the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA) to the Legislature on her 89th day in office. The legislation will act as a vehicle to get a natural gas pipeline built and bring the state’s substantial gas reserves to market.
The AGIA offers a number of inducements for those who hold gas leases and for those who want to build the line. In return, the state will provide a matching capital contribution and insist on the state’s must-haves: project benchmarks, gas for
Alaskans, expansion capabilities, and jobs for Alaskans. The state is committed to ensuring that Alaskans will be trained and ready to build the gasline. Governor Palin recently traveled to
Washington D.C., where she received encouragement for the AGIA from Alaska’s Congressional Delegation, FERC officials and members of the Bush Administration.

Sarah Palin:
Pursue gasline plan that is best for ALL Alaskans

My Administration will pursue the gasline plan that is best for ALL Alaskans. All qualified & viable proposals & applicants will be considered. How do we get there? First, we acknowledge that the Stranded Gas Development Act (SGDA) no longer applies.
The producers want to amend the SGDA to fit their proposed contract within the technical confines of that law. However, the Legislature’s own experts have testified that the gas can no longer be deemed “stranded” due to long-term economic conditions.

Tony Knowles:
Qualified support of BP-Arco merger

Three times Knowles asked Palin if she supported the Katie John subsistence decision (she never answered). Three times Palin asked Knowles if he supported the BP/Arco merger (he finally answered with a qualified yes).

After a seemingly innocuous first round, Palin put Knowles on the ropes by pummeling him with questions about the BP-Arco merger. It was her most impressive sparring of the campaign, and she won the round by sounding knowledgeable but not nasty.

Sarah Palin:
Met with producers and employee groups for pipeline deal

Q: Will you limit your negotiations on the gas pipeline to the producers or will you reopen discussions with others?

KNOWLES: I would look to all of the proposals to see what is the best deal for Alaska. The next governor is going to have to sit down
with Alaska business leaders, members of the oil and gas industry and others to negotiate an Alaska gas line on Alaska’s terms. Sarah has refused to meet with the executives and employees of ConocoPhillips, BP, Alyeska, with the regional CEOs of the
Native corporations. I believe that we cannot afford to have a governor who is AWOL. You cannot delegate leadership.

PALIN: That is an untruthful statement. I’ve met with Exxon; with ConocoPhillips; with the BP employee group.
So, that’s not true.

PALIN: That is an untruthful statement. I’ve met with Exxon. I’ve met with ConocoPhillips. I’ve met with the BP employee group and the ConocoPhillips folks. Heck, I have the endorsement of the North Slope union hands up there.

Source: Alaska 2006 Governor Debate: at Anchorage Rotary
Oct 31, 2006

Tony Knowles:
Include producers & all proposals in negotiating pipeline

Q: Will you limit your negotiations on the gas pipeline to the producers or will you reopen discussions with others?

KNOWLES: I would look to all of the proposals to see what is the best deal for Alaska. And there is a clear difference between Sarah an
myself. This is a pivotal time. The next governor is going to have to sit down with Alaska business leaders, members of the oil and gas industry and others to negotiate an Alaska gas line on Alaska’s terms. I’ve asked Sarah what experience she has in
negotiating a project and she says she doesn’t pretend to have the expertise and would hire people. Well, this is a pivotal point. Sarah has refused to meet with the executives and employees of ConocoPhillips, BP, Alyeska, with the regional CEOs of the
Native corporations. I believe that we cannot afford to have a governor who is AWOL. You cannot delegate leadership.

PALIN: That is an untruthful statement. I’ve met with Exxon; with ConocoPhillips; with the BP employee group. So, that’s not true.